A personal quest to promote the use of wind energy and hydrogen technology in the Great Lakes area of the United States. The Great Lakes area is in a unique position to become an energy exporting region through these and other renewable energy technologies. *Update 2014: Just do it everywhere - Dan*

The Trump administration is right -- demand for fossil fuels such as coal is declining, but it's market forces -- not government policies -- that are driving that shift, write John Byrne, chairman and founder of the Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment, and John Dernbach, a Widener University professor. They argue clean energy sources, such as wind and solar, are becoming more productive than fossil fuels, and in many parts of the US, they cost the same or less than traditional energy sources.

Avangrid Renewables has acquired a 50% interest in Vineyard Wind, a Massachusetts offshore wind firm that holds a federal lease to develop an offshore wind farm off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, according to the companies. "When you look at our longer term position with the Kitty Hawk offshore lease in North Carolina and factor in this more immediate offshore opportunity in Massachusetts, combined with our family of company's extensive experience and knowledge, you recognize we are well positioned to grow this sector in the US," said Avangrid CEO James Torgerson.

Enel Green Power North America has begun building its $435 million, 298-megawatt Thunder Ranch project in Oklahoma's Garfield, Kay and Noble counties, said the company. It is expected to begin operations this year.

RES has begun building the 160-megawatt, 64-turbine Rattlesnake project in McCulloch County, Texas, on behalf of Goldwind Americas, according to the companies. "Goldwind Americas is proud to be working with RES to construct this milestone project, our first project in Texas and first tax equity financed project," said CEO David Halligan.

Northland Power, Siemens, Van Oord and HVC have officially begun operations at their 600-megawatt Gemini Offshore Wind Park located off the coast of the Netherlands, according to the companies. "Now fully operational, Gemini will produce 2.6 terawatt-hours of sustainable energy every year, reducing the Netherlands' CO2 emissions by 1.25 million tons," said Gemini Wind Park CEO Matthias Haag.

GE Renewable Energy has won a contract with Chinese firm HECIC to supply its Senjitu III and Qiansongba wind farms in Hebei, China, with 81 turbines for a combined capacity of 199.5 megawatts, said GE Renewable. "This is a significant step forward for both GE and HECIC in China, and this deal will help to expand HECIC's renewable energy presence in China," President and CEO of GE Onshore Wind Peter McCabe said.

Investments in Europe's wind industry climbed 22% to about $46.8 billion in 2016, with the UK, Germany, Belgium and Norway accounting for about 80% of that total, according to WindEurope. The report added the Europe's total installed wind capacity has surpassed 150 gigawatts, with 25 GW of that total having been added over the past two years.

The US has shown that it can curb carbon emissions during periods of economic growth, and it must continue to show leadership by upholding the Paris climate accord, said former President Barack Obama, while speaking in Milan on Tuesday. He added that under his administration, the US was able to grow its wind and solar industries while bringing costs down to levels competitive with fossil fuels.

The Maine Legislature is diminishing the state's reputation for doing business by considering a siting bill that would effectively stop the University of Maine from moving forward with its Maine Aqua Ventus floating offshore wind pilot, writes Philip Conkling, an independent consultant and author. Conkling argues that the bill, combined with the rejection of a Statoil offshore wind project several years ago, could deter future investments in the state's offshore wind industry.

Let's learn from each other: Ask any wind farm developer, and they'll tell you the most successful projects are in communities that want them. And a lot of communities do, as there are wind farms in 41 out of 50 states, supporting well-paying jobs and investing billions of dollars in rural communities. But how can we help ensure that happens? What are the best ways to mobilize the vast majority of people who support wind power while addressing the concerns that are natural for any major project? The next installment of AWEA's Community Engagement Seminar series, happening on May 22 in Anaheim, Calif., tackles exactly these questions. Learn more.

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

Judy Garland, singer and actress

These stories were selected and summarized by independent editors at SmartBrief Inc., not by AWEA's staff, and do not represent AWEA positions. They reflect the variety of daily coverage of American wind power.

The above links are all to the e-book versions of these chapbooks.
For paperback versions and to view a listing of all my books as they are released click
HERE: Dan Stafford's Poetic Universe

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About Me

Happily married with two grown children out on their own, I've had extensive life experience in many areas. I consider myself a Progressive, and I strive to make the world a better place for those around me and those who'll follow after us. I am an Air Force Veteran, and I have been a Telecommunications Technician since 1993, with a Vocational Diploma in Aircraft Electronics. My interests are Environmentalism, Science, Social Justice, Poetry and Music, Reading, Karate, and learning Spanish. I'm originally from Southern Wisconsin, and have lived in the Chicago Metro area (Naperville, Plainfield, & Oak Brook) since late 1997. Moved to Temecula, CA January of 2015.

Why I Publish This Blog:

"One thing that many people do not realize is that states like Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan are sitting on a gold mine of wind energy potential. Or, more properly, next to the mine. The Great Lakes are probably the area in the USA with the third largest inland wind energy potential. Think of just the nickname for Chicago. "The Windy City". Milwaukee is even windier, I can tell you. Why? Because they sit on the edge of a great flat area where there is both a land-water temperaturedifferential, and a large flat expanse of water that is comparably shallow.Oilrigs certainly operate in deeper waters. And you won't have to construct transmission lines all the way from the plains of Montana to put it to use.

The Great Lakes area has an opportunity to get the jump on wind energy's future, if that fact isrecognized and exploited. Wind energy means jobs for construction and maintenance workers, thousandsof them. Wind energy means leasing rights and extra money for family farmers struggling to make it onagriculture alone. In most cases farmers can grow crops right up to the base of a windmill. The landfootprint has a small impact on total farm acreage. Wind energy also means freedom from fluctuatingfuel prices. Wind is free. The cost of a barrel of polluting oil can be raised or lowered drasticallybased on fears or political whims. The potential gains are enormous. We've all seen the flow of goodmanufacturing jobs out of the area. Well, they can't tell the wind to blow in another country so it'smore "convenient" or cheaper to produce. The wind is perfectly happy to whip up opportunities for usright around here. Most of all, because we here in the Great Lakes region have the potential to havea huge positive impact on U.S. energy industry emissions' contribution to global warming."

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Please note the E-mail link by the title of the webpage. Comments, stories, and article submissions are welcome.
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The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal makes no claim as to the accuracy of submitted material. The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal neither endorses nor opposes opinions expressed in submitted material. Submitter must provide
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Safe, healthy, good for the economy, good for the environment, good for farmers, good for you, and just downright good produce:

I strongly encourage those seriously interested in learning about the technology, players, politics, and issues of Wind Energy to spend time browsing the
American Wind Energy Association website. They are the premier industry trade organization and have extensive resources available.
(www.awea.org)